PEYTON HIGHTOWER - 5 Months (2011) - Panama City FL

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Man_Hits_Baby_Goes_to_Prison_for_Long_Time__136812973.html

Anthony Eugene Hightower pleaded no contest on Thursday to child abuse and child neglect with serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.



Assistant State Attorney Erin Oliver was prepared to prove to a jury that Hightower, 29, of 7309 Deer Haven Road, Panama City, struck his 5-month-old son Peyton in the head, causing life threatening injuries, on April 27.


Authorities took Peyton to the hospital the next day after responding to an emergency call. He was found to have a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain, which have left him blind, possibly deaf and probably with developmental problems.

Circuit Judge Brantley Clark sentenced Hightower to 20 years in prison, followed by five years probation, for aggravated child abuse and 15 years for both neglect of a child with serious bodily injury and a probation violation for possession of cocaine with intent to sell.